WM Power feed question

[WV Sawmiller]

    I replaced the shaft and related bearings on my WM LT35 HD mill power feed assembly today but had a real problem getting the chain around the sprocket and between it and the cam follower bearing. There is very little space in between the two pieces and they are very hard to reach. I finally removed the pulley and drove the shaft backwards to get enough space between the sprocket and the cam follower then drove it back on through the bearings and reinstalled the pulley and got it to work but I am pretty sure that is not the recommended or easiest way to put the unit back on the track. I almost damaged the threads on the end of the shaft to the point I could not get the nut on it. This is an upgrade using a threaded shaft and nut to hold the shaft on - the original design just depended on the set screw on the pulley to hold it on.

 Have any of you done this before and if so do you know of a better, easier way to do this? I was working about 2' from the front of the mill and had disconnected the chain from the rear per the instructions that came with the part. The guide just said reassemble the assembly then reinstall the chain.

[Chuck White]

I did that same upgrade on my LT40 last Summer.

I put in a new drive chain at the same time.

I didn't have any serious issues, other than the shield that normally hangs over the chain, between the two vertical masts would not line up on the chain, so now it hangs on the wall in the garage!

[WV Sawmiller]

Chuck,

   If I had it to do over I think I would run the head nearly all the way to the end of the mill instead of the front then see if I couldn't just drop the chain over the top directly down between the cam follower and on to the sprocket. I think it may feed through from above okay but is the dickins to get between on the side.

[Magicman]

I am sure that the LT35 & LT40 are different but I had to use a straightened coat hanger for a fish wire.

[WV Sawmiller]

Lynn,

   Did you feed it from the end or get it through from the side somehow?

[Magicman]

Probably "all of the above".  :-\  If I remember correctly, feeding the chain through before/as you assemble the feed sprockets/bearings is much easier. 

I am much harder on the power feed sprockets/bearings than normal because they are also dragging me along on the sawmill seat.  Also, a "too tight" power feed chain will kill the bearings.  I have rebuilt the power feed twice.  The first time reassembly was a breeze and the second time was a bad word. 

[GAB]

The first time reassembly was a breeze and the second time was a bad word.  

JUST ONE!
GAB

[Chuck White]

Howard; I did the upgrade at the tail end of the mill and I think I fished the chain through with a length of soft wire!

[Southside]

Well, look at it this way, you did not need your neighbors big FEL to complete the job this time, so whatever you did it was a success!!   ;D

[WV Sawmiller]

SS,

    That was TMI >:(. Some things you don't even want to think about. :( Actually it makes me wonder if I installed it incorrectly before and caused it to fail this time.